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G.A.SNYDER.

MACHINE FOR TREATING LEAF TOBAGGO. No. 483,401. Patented Sept; 27',1892.

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0. A.,SNYDER. MACHINE FOR TREATING LEAP TOBAGGO.

No. 483,401. Patented Sept. 27, 1892.

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c. A. SNYDER. MACHINE FOR TREATING LEAF TOBAGGO.

N0. 483,401 Patented Sept. 27, 1892.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES A. SNYDER, OF DANVILLE, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HUNDRED-AND-SEVEN TWO-HUNDRED-AND-FORTIETHS TO WILLIAM IV. BROWN AND ROBERT T.BASS, OF SAME PLACE.

MACHINE FOR TREATING LEAF-TOBACCO.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 483,401, datedSeptember 27, 1892.

Application filed December 29, 1891. Serial No. 416,438. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. SNYDER, residing at Danville,Pittsylvania county, in the State of Virginia, have invented a new anduseful Improvement in Machines for Treating Leaf-Tobacco, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention is an improved machine for treating tobacco preparatory toits manufac- IO ture into plug, finecut, smoking tobacco, wrappers, &c.;and my object is to provide a simple novel construction whereby thetobacco may be first subjected to an air bath, and thereby thoroughlydusted, then be treated I 5 with the desired preparations and solutions,and then dried, the tobacco passing by gravity through the machine. I

The invention has for further objects other improvements; and itconsists in certain novel constructions and combinations of parts. aswill be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of my apparatus. Fig. 2 is aside view, parts 25. being omitted. Fig. 3 is a cross-section on line 33 of Fig. 1, and Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, and S are detail views.

In carrying out my invention I provide a suitable framing, which isshown as compris- 3o ing a base A and upright frames B thereon, all ofthese frames being constructed alike, so the description of one willanswer for all. Theseframes B are braced by connecting-rods B extendedbetween them, and are provided at their upper portions with rings 0,which for convenience of reference I shall call the frame-rings.Intheirinnerfacestheserings O are provided with notches D,Which receiveboxes E, which are movable radially in the notches D, the said boxesbeing provided at their edges with guides, which hold them to the ringsand yet permit their radial movement. At their inner ends the boxes areprovided with rollers F, and set-screws G are threaded through the rings0 and bear against the outer ends of the boxes E, so such boxes may beset inward as may be desired.

In the construction shown I provide three compartments, which may betermed the re ceiving-chamber I-I, agitator I, and the discharge-chamberJ, such parts H, I, and

J being connected so they will turn together,

as more fully described hereinafter. The receiving-chamberHis in thenature of a duster, being covered with wire-gauze h or itsequivalentsuch, for instance, as perforated sheet metaland during thepassage of the tobacco through this chamber H it is subjected to an airbath or blast by means of a suitable blower K. This blower K is shown aslocated alongside of the rear of the chamber H to force its blastdirectly against such chamber, so that it will force the dust from thetobacco and drive it out of the chamber; but it is manifest that thisblower may be otherwise arranged, it so desired. The subjection of thetobacco to an air bath at this stage of the operation is desirable forseveral reasons, as it thoroughly dusts the tobacco and also has atendency to loosen up the leaves and to put them in better condition forthe action of the agitator presently described. This chamberH isconstructed with end rings L, which are of special construction toenable them to be used on the agitator; but as the special constructionis not incidental to their use in connectionwith the receiving-chamber Ishall not fully describe them at this point; but it may be here saidthat I use this special construction of rings in connection with theouter ends of both the So chambers II and J, as they will serve theirdesired purposes at such ends; and by their use I avoid the necessity ofspecially constructing guide-rings for use at such points. The agitatorI, which is an important feature 8 5 of my apparatus, will be nowdescribed. This agitator comprises an apron M, which is end less and ispreferably made of rubber, has at its edges sprocket-chains N, and isprovided with pins 0, projecting from its outer side, such pins beingpreferably the extensions of rivet-shanks passed through the rubberapron,

as will be readily understood. This apron is passed around guide-rollersP, P, P and P all of which are preferably provided with sprocket-wheelsQ to mesh the chains N, and the upper and lower rollers P P are arrangedin such relation, as shown, that the apron is made to form almost acomplete cylinder.

In order to preserve the hollow of the apron, I00

I arrange within such hollow the guide-rings L, which havesprocket-teeth l to mesh with the chains N. These rings at the oppositeends of the agitator are also the inner end rings of the chambers H andJ and are open at the center, as shown. The rings L have tubularflange-like portions L, which fit in the rings (J and are grooved at Zto receive the rolls F, by which the rings L are held and may beadjusted. These open rings are of great importance, as they enable theapron to be brought into almost'a complete cylindrical form and yetprevent the collapsing of said apron and preserve the hollow thereof inthe desired shape. Now it is important that the cylinder should bebrought into this nearlycylindrical form for several reasons. In thefirst place, the forward projection of the apron above its hollow orreceiving portion insures the dropping of the tobacco back into suchhollow when it is carried up by the apron and avoids the necessity ofproviding separate devices for forcing the tobacco down as it is carriedup by the apron. Again, this nearly-cylindrical portion of the agitatorenables the mouth thereof to be contracted, so that the spray to whichthe tobacco is subjected while in the agitator may be retained withinthe agitator and not be dissipated in the air, as might result if theopening for the introduction of such spray were less contracted. Thespraying devices, which will be more fully described hereinafter, aregreatly preferred; but it will be understood that I'do not desire to belimited in the improved features of my agitator to the specialconstruction of such spraying devices, and it will also be understoodthat it might be practicable in some instances to omit spraying devicesand introduce the liquid solutions through the lateral opening by hand.

The open end guide-rings L for the agitator permit the introduction ofthe tobacco directly in one end of the agitator and its discharge fromthe opposite end thereof. This insures the passage of every portion ofthe tobacco throughout the full width of the apron and enables the useof a narrower apron than would be practicable were the tobaccointroduced in some other manner. Another and an important resultaccomplished by this mode of introducing and discharging the tobacco isthat thereby the entire lateral opening is left unobstructed, so that itmay be utilized for the introduction of the solutions,flavoringextracts, &c., as may be desired. Thus I see cure by thedescribed construction a convenient arrangement by which the tobacco isintroduced directly in one end and discharged directly from the otherend of the apron. Such apron may be arranged in almost a completecylindrical form to better agitate the tobacco, to insure its return bygravity when carried up, and to retain the spray, and at the same timethe full length and width of the lateral opening is left unobstructedfor the introduction of the spraying devices. The upper guideroller P isdriven by connecting its shaft with a shaft R, which shaft R is suitablybelted with a line or drive shaft 7'. This roller P gives motion to theapron, the apron gives motion to its end guide-rings L, and suchguide-rings serve to turn the chambers H and J in the same direction asthat portion of the agitator-apron engaging with its guide-rings L. Thisforms a convenient construction for driving the parts H, I, and J of themachine, and by giving motion to the end guide-rings of the agitator, asdescribed, the said rings by their motion will operate to facilitate theentrance of the tobacco into and its discharge from the agitator, and soaid in preventing the clogging of such part.

The screens may be secured to the guiderings L in any suitable manner.This may be preferably accomplished by securing strips of Wood or ironto the guide-rings and fastening the screens thereto, as will beunderstood from Fig. 3.

In practice it is preferred to incline the parts H, I, and J downward ona gradual incline from the receiving end of the chamber H to thedischarge end of the chamber J, and this is preferably accomplished bysupporting the base A at the desired angle, which may be convenientlyaccomplished by mounting such base at one end on a block or foundationhigher than that which supports its opposite end. This is preferable,because it enables the upright frames B to be all constructed alike andalso permits of the arrangement of the said parts H I J at any angle theowner of the machine may prefer, as the character of the tobacco or thespeed at which the machine is run may render it desirable to incline theparts H, I, and J in some instances more than in others. It will beunderstood that by similarly constructing as many as possible of theparts of the machine I am able to greatly reduce the initial costthereof.

The discharge-chamber J is preferably constructed, like the chamber H,of wire-gauze, and where desired ahot blast may be used in such chamberto facilitate the drying of the tobacco; but ordinarily this will not befound necessary, and in many instances the discharge-chamber may beomitted and the tobacco discharged directly from the lower end of theagitator into a suitable receptacle. At the discharge end of the machinea suitable conveyer may be arranged to conduct the tobacco to anydesired part of the house.

. In front of the agitator I arrange the spraying devices, which includea reservoir S, a distributer T, arranged below the reservoir andextended into the lateral opening of the agitator, a number of pipes U,extended from the reservoir to the distributer, an intermediate pipe V,connected by a number of pipes v with the distributor T, and a blower W,which may preferably be an ordinary Root blower and which is arranged todischarge its blast into the intermediate pipe V, such blast beingarranged to pass from the pipe V through the pipes 22 into thedistributor T, the pipes o and U being arranged to open into suchdistributor at the same point, so that the blast through pipes Q; willrapidly convert the solution discharged from pipes U into spray. Thisspray will be distributed by the part T to the tobacco in the agitator,such distributing part being arranged to flare out toward the agitator,so that it will spread the spray and distribute it upon the entirequantity of tobacco in the agitator. It will be noticed that thedistributer is elongated in the direction and extends almost the fulllength of the lateral opening into the agitator. Each of the pipes U hasan independent valve U, so that one or more of such pipes U may bewholly or partially shut off in order to regulate the supply of thelicorice or other solution supplied to the tobacco. By making thesevalves independent a greater or less quantity of the solution may besupplied to the tobacco at its entrance or near the middle or near theend of the agitator, so that if for any reason it is desired to supplybut a small portion of the solution to the tobacco near the front end ofthe agitator and a greater quantity. near the rear or discharge endthereof, or vice versa, this may be conveniently accomplished byproperly manipulating the valves U. This location of the reservoir isconsiderably above the distributer, so that the solution will pass fromsuch reservoir to the distributer by gravity, and this gravity will beaided by the suction produced by the blast of air forced through thepipes '11 into the distributer, as before described. The end of thedistributer next to the discharge end of the ,agitator is extendedbeyond the reservoir S, and I provide at such point one or moresubreservoirs S for flavoring-extracts and the like, such sub-reservoirshaving pipes S opening into the distributer T, the said pipes S beingprovided with valves similar to the valves U. Pipes '0 lead from theintermediate pipe V and open into the distributer T, adjacent to thepipes S and operate in connection witlrsueh pipes S in similar manner totheir operation in connection with the pipes U, before described. At therear end of the pipe V, I connect a pipe 1, which leads to the dischargeend of the machine and is adapted to conduct a dry or powdered flavoringand to discharge the same onto the tobacco as it leaves the machine. Atits lower edge the distributer is provided with a driptrough 25, fromwhich a pipe 25 leads to conduct any liquid portions out and preventtheir discharge into the agitator. As shown, this pipe 1 discharges atthe rear end of the chamber J; but when such chamber J is omitted itshould lead to the rear end of the agitator, as will be readilyunderstood. The powder-holder includes a vessel 2, having adischarge-opening 3 in its bottom, such opening being arranged inconnection With the pipe 1, as shown. The vessel 2 preferably taperstoward its lower end, and within it I arrange a cylindrical sieve 4,open at its bottom and fitted at such bottom over the opening 3. Thissieve t has a shaft 5 suitably geared with the machine, so that thesieve when turned will sift the powder placed in the vessel 2 into thepipe 1, whence it will be discharged by the blast. To regulate thesupply of powder fed to the tobacco, I provide a cylindrical shut-off 6,fitted over the sieve 4 and .adapted to be adjusted to wholly orpartially cover such sieve, in order to stop off or regulate thequantity of powder fed from the vessel. The shaft of this sieve and theBoot or other blower may be geared with and driven by the shaft of theguide-roller P, or they may be driven in any other suitable manner.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patcut, is-

1. An apparatus, substantially as described,

the tobacco may be introduced directly in said end in a longitudinaldirection, and having an outlet at its opposite end and alateral openingfor the insertion of the treating solutions, &c., substantially as setforth.

2. A machine, substantially as described, comprising an agitator-apronhaving a lateral opening and open at one end for the introduction of thematerial and a receivingchamber connected with the inlet end of theagitator and arranged to introduce the material longitudinally into theend of said agitator, substantially as set forth.

3. In an apparatus, substantially as described, an agitator comprisingopen end rings having sprocket-teeth, the framing having bearings forthe said rings, the apron having at its edges sprocket-chains engagingthe teeth of the rings, and the guide and drive rollers for said apron,substantially as set forth.

4:. In an apparatus, substantially as described, an agitator consistingof an endless apron provided on its outer side with projecting teeth andarranged with a space between its ends for the insertion of the treatingsolutions, &c., and end supports for said apron, consisting of openrings, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. An apparatus, substantially as described,

IIO

consisting of an apron, means for supporting 7. The improved agitator,substantially as described, consisting of the apron, havingsprocket-chains at its edges, the end guiderings therefor having ontheir outer sides sprocket-teeth to mesh the chains of the apron andopen at the center for the introduction and discharge of the tobacco,and the drive-roller having sprocket-gears meshing the chains of theapron, whereby the roller drives the apron and the apron drives itsguide-rings, all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

8. An apparatus, substantially as described, comprising a frame havingbearing-rings provided with bearings for the drive and guide rollers,the drive and guide rollers, the end less apron passed around saidrollers, and the end guide-rings open centrally for the inlet anddischarge of the tobacco and journaled in the frame-rings, allsubstantially as and for the purposes set forth.

9. In an apparatus, substantially as described, an agitator comprisingan endless apron, guides within said apron, and circular end guidesfitted in the hollow of said apron, whereby the apron may be formed intoalmost a complete cylinder, the circular end guides preserving thehollow of the apron in proper shape, all substantially as and for thepurposes set forth.

10. An apparatus, substantially as described, comprising the framing,the endless apron, the end guide-rings fitted within the hollow of andarranged to be turned by the said apron, means for driving theapron, andthe receivingchamber united at one end to one of the end guide-rings,whereby the said chamber will be turned by the power applied to theapron, all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

11. A machine for treating tobacco, substantially as described,comprising an agitator formed of an endless apron, means for supportingthe apron, and circular end guides fitted in the hollow of said apron,whereby there is provided a contracted lateral opening for theintroduction of solutions, &c., and a sprayer, substantially as setforth.

12. Anapparatus,substantiallyas described, comprising the frame-ringsprovided in their inner faces with notches or openings, the boxes fittedmovablyin said notches or openings and provided with rollers, the screwsfor adjusting said boxes, the guide-rings having portions fitting in theframe-rings and grooved to receive the said screw-adjusted rollers, theendless apron carried by the guide-rings, and the rollers fitted Withinsaid apron, all substantially as set forth.

13. An apparatus,substantiallyas described,

comprising the frame-rings having outward- 6o tom of the vessel, saidsieve being provided with a shaft and adapted to be revolved, and acylindrical shut-01f arranged and adapted to be adjusted over said sieveto wholly or partially shut off the same, substantially as set forth.

15. An apparatus, substantially as described, comprising the liquidreservoir and distributer and the connection-pipes, the intermediatepipe, the blower arranged to discharge its blast into said intermediatepipe,the powder or dry-flavoring distributer having a vessel orreservoir, and a conducting-pipe arranged to receive the powdertherefrom, said conducting-pipe being connected with the intermediatepipe of the sprayer, whereby it will also receive the blast from theblower, substantially as set forth.

16. An improved apparatus, substantially as described, consisting of theframing having frame-rings, the receiving-chamber having end ringsfitted in the framing, and a covering of wire-gauze or its equivalent,the agitator consisting of the end guide-rings open for the admissionand discharge of the tobacco, the sprayer having an elongated flaringdistributer, a reservoir connected with said distributer and a blower,and the flavoring-reservoir having its discharge-pipe arranged to openinto the said distributer,substantially as set forth.

17. An apparatus, substantially as described, comprising the agitator,the spraying device, the powder-distributer, the blower, and connectionswhereby parts of the blast of the blower are directed to the sprayer andto the powder-distributer, substantially as set forth.

18. An apparatus for treating tobacco, consisting of an agitator, asprayer, a powderdistributer, a blower, and valve devices whereby thespray or the powder may be shut off at will, substantially as set forth.

7 CHARLES A. SNYDER.

Witnesses:

GEO. G. TEMPLE, J OHN C. NEAL.

